Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Today 588 people live in this town, first settled in 1909.
26% of residents are 65 or older in South Cle Elum, against 16% in Washington’s towns and 18% across U.S. towns. Only 6 of the 286 Washington towns we compare have a lower January low than South Cle Elum. South Cle Elum’s concentration of trails is 1.3 miles per square mile, against 0.8 in Washington’s towns and 0.4 across U.S. towns. South Cle Elum has 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Milwaukee Road Bunkhouse. South Cle Elum has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 1909.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in South Cle Elum, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in South Cle Elum.
Expected losses in South Cle Elum break down as 51% from inland flooding and 43% from wildfires. The town has had one paid flood insurance claim since 2009. Federal disaster aid has reached households in South Cle Elum after 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2009.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Among residents in South Cle Elum, 14% live below the poverty line. Most people who work leave South Cle Elum to do it: just 1% work in town. The town’s typical household income is $67,000. Since 2013, South Cle Elum has added 25 jobs, to 30 in 2023.
| South Cle Elum | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 14% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $67,000 | $98,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 0.7% | 4.9% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
The typical rent for South Cle Elum comes to $1,661 a month. In the year to September 2026, typical home values climbed 2.8%.
| South Cle Elum | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,661 a month | $1,739 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 72% | 71% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
0.5 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Palouse to Cascades State Park, at 20 acres.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Palouse to Cascades State Park | 0.5 mi | 20 |
| 2. Fireman’s Park | — | 4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
In South Cle Elum, 29% of adults have been diagnosed with depression. Among 286 Washington towns, just 5 have a higher share of adults who have diabetes than South Cle Elum. Of 31 CDC measures, South Cle Elum beats the Washington average on 1 and trails it on 22.
| South Cle Elum | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 13% | 14% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 17% | 19% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 9.8% | 12% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 17% | 17% |
| What stands out | South Cle Elum | WA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 73.8% | 70.7% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 23.4% | 9% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
None within 15 miles of South Cle Elum; the nearest are
About 3 of every 100 South Cle Elum residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Washington.
Where South Cle Elum’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
2 places in South Cle Elum on the National Register of Historic Places.
Town in Washington, United States
South Cle Elum is a town in Kittitas County, Washington, United States. The population was 559 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
South Cle Elum has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
